Massage therapists in Arizona must provide proof of 700 hours of massage education.
The Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy offers two principle routes for becoming a licensed massage therapist. A massage therapist can submit a first-time application for a regular license or one for a reciprocity license, using a license from another state. Both options require supporting documentation.
Transcripts
In Arizona (after January 1, 2008), all applicants must provide transcripts demonstrating they have completed 700 in-person hours of massage education. The transcript must be requested from the massage therapy school--both in state and out-of-state. When the applicant requests a transcript from out-of-state to be sent to the Arizona Board, the transcript must include proof of how the massage school is accredited in another state.
If applicants have less than 700 hours of massage education, they must complete the remaining hours from an accredited school of massage therapy in Arizona or another state.
Test Scores
First-time applicants for a regular license are required to submit proof of current certification with test scores from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) or the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEX).
The former test is offered as part of several requirements for national certification through NCBTMB, and the score reflects a pass or fail test result. The latter test is developed by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards and administered by Pearson VUE. This test is based on a national job task analysis to ensure it tests the current practices being used in the profession, according to the FSMTB.
*Arizona also requires test scores for massage therapists with inactive licenses and who have not held a state license in five years.
*The state does not require test scores from graduates of state-approved schools listed on its government website.
Licensure Verification
Applicants using the reciprocity license have to provide documentation of their out-of-state credentials. For every state the applicant has ever held a license, the Arizona board must receive a license verification. Massage therapists who have worked in multiple states do not have a complete application until the verification is received from all of the states where he or she has worked.
Tags: another state, hours massage, hours massage education, massage education, Massage Bodywork, massage therapist, Massage therapists
